Two minor leaguers suspended

Two minor league pitchers were suspended by Major League Baseball on Thursday for violations of the substance abuse policy.

Delvin Hiciano, a right-hander in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization, received a 50-game suspension without pay that begins immediately after testing positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. He currently is on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Pirates.

Eric Smith, a right-hander in the Arizona Diamondbacks' system, also was given a 50-game suspension without pay that starts right away after a second violation for what baseball labels a drug of abuse. Smith was with Double-A Mobile in the Southern League at the time of the suspension.